Metro's final SafeTrack surge will affect the Shady Grove end of the Red Line

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Red Line riders in Montgomery County are facing some changes to their commutes during Metro's final SafeTrack maintenance surge, which began Saturday.

Service is shut down on the segment from Shady Grove to Twinbrook. Two stations -- Shady Grove and Rockville -- are closed.

The changes will remain in effect through June 25.

Shuttle buses are running along the affected stretch of the Red Line, with express shuttle buses between Shady Grove and Twinbrook during rush hour. (Scroll down to the "Transportation Alternatives" section for details.)

This should be music to every Metro rider's ears -- the last SafeTrack surge beings Saturday. News 4's Molette Green went to the Shady Grove station and has everything you need to know to make through the final stage.

On the rest of the Red Line, trains are operating between Glenmont and Twinbrook every eight minutes instead of every six minutes. Extra trains are running between Glenmont and Silver Spring every four minutes instead of every three minutes.

During midday and evenings, trains are operating every 12 minutes, with extra trains between Grosvenor and Silver Spring.

After 10 p.m., trains run every 15 minutes.

Weekend train service may vary during the SafeTrack surge; see weekend train statuses online here.

Alternatives to Metrorail:

BUS:

WMATA Shuttles: WMATA is running free shuttle buses on two routes:

A local route is operating between Shady Grove, Rockville and Twinbrook. The local shuttle is picking up passengers on the west side at Bay C at Shady Grove.

During weekday rush hours, an express route is running between Shady Grove and Grosvenor-Strathmore from 5 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The express shuttle is picking up passengers on the east side of Bay G at Shady Grove.

MARC's commuter rail trains may be an option for some riders. Montgomery County transportation officials suggest using the Brunswick Line, which has stations at Metropolitan Grove, Rockville, Garrett Park, Kensington, Silver Spring and Union Station.